Sewing-machine.



V. J. VAN HORN.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Dec. 8. 1913.

Patented Jan. 25, 19 16.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASH! V. J. VAN HORN.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-8,1913.

1,169,584, Patented Jan.25,1916.

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SEWING-MACHINE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 191.6.

Application filed December S, 1913. Serial No. 305,262.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VANDIvnn J. VAN HORN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Ma chines, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to the looper mechanism for sewing machines.

The object of the invention is to increase the efficiency of the looper mechanism by rendering it perfectly reliable in action and improving the character of the stitch. This object is attained by the mechanism herein shown and described, wherein the parts are so shaped and controlled that the loop is formed by the use of a short portion of thread; it is carried by the loop-holder with a minimum amount of friction; the thread is so guided, as it leaves the holder, as to insure its engagement by the descending needle and as to draw it up closely to the work, resulting in a uniformity of stitches of less width than has heretofore been obtainable. r

The invention consists in a mechanism such as is hereinafter described, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail end elevation of a sewing machine; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the loop-holder; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are elevations of the looper mechanism, partly in section and partly broken away, the parts being shown in different positions; and Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the loop-holder driver.

In the drawings there is shown at 10 a portion of the bed plate of a sewing machine of ordinary construction; at 11 a needle bar; at 12 the needle; and at 13 a presser foot.

The looper mechanism includes a stationary race member 1 1, attached to a portion 15 of the frame of the machine head by means of screws 16, 17; a loop-holder 18 rotatably mounted in the race member, and a driver 19 fixed upon the usual shaft 20 journaled in the frame brackets 15 and 21.

The race member 14: is shown as crescentshaped, its ends being at each side of the throat of the machine to permit the entry of the needle. The race-way for the loop holder is formed on the inner face of the member 11, which is provided with an upstanding shoulder 22 against which the holder bears laterally. A plate 23, attached to the face of the member M, forms a lateral bearing for the opposite side of the holder. The loop-holder 18 is segmental in form, extending through approximately three-fourths of a circle. Throughout the greater portion of its length it is substantially square in cross-section, and fits snugly within the raceway in the member 14: within which it is adapted to rotate.

The driver 19 is a circular plate, having a portion of its perimeter depressed, as shown at 2%, for the purpose hereinafter pointed out. This plate is secured to the shaft 20, as by means of a screw 25 set through its hub, and fits within a suitable recess in the member 1-1. The diameter of the plate 19 is slightly-less than the internal diameter of the loop-holder 18 which encircles it, providing clearance for the loop.

Within a channel 26 extending diametri- Cally across the face of the plate 19 there is housed a pair of reciprocating plungers 27 28, the outer ends of which are provided with studs 29, 30, adapted to enter apertures 31, 32, in the inner face of the loop-holder 18. Studs 33, 34, each carrying an antifriction roller 35, 36, project laterally from the plungers 27, 28, into a cam channel 37 formed in the inner face of the plate 23. The configuration of the channel 37 is such that the plungers are thrown outwardly to cause their studs to enter the apertures in the loop-holder, except while opposite the throat of the machine where for a short distance the plunger is drawn inwardly, disconnecting the stud from the holder to permit thelatter to pass through the thread loo-p. By this construction the loop-holder is carried with the driver 19, one or both of the plunger studs being in engagement with it at all times, while the connection between the driver and holder is such that the latter may pass freely through the thread loop. While I have shown two plungers for driving the loop-holder, and while at least two are necessary, their number may be increased, if desired.

The loop-holder is substantially in line with the path of the needle 12. Its forward As the end is pointed, andfor a short. distance from its tip is cut away at one side to allowclearance for the needle. The parts are so related that the forward end of the loopholder passes along the needle shaft as the latter ascends, and hence enters between the needleand that portion of the thread which extends from the needle eye to the work.

ment thread is drawn through its eye to complete the formation of the loo-p now held by the holder 18. The rear end of the holder 18 leaves the loop just as the needle again descends, the action being so timed that the needle point comes into close proximity to the end of the loop-holder, and to provide for thistiming, without actual contact of the one part with the other, the outer face of the holder may be beveled at itsend, as shownat 38. The inner face of the rear end of the loop-holder is also beveled, as shown at 41, thereby permitting the commencement of the contraction of the loop by the strain of the needle upon the thread, supplemented by the action of the feed motion, while still maintaining the original width of the loop.

Inorder that the loop may certainly be so positioned that as the needle descends it will pass through it, provision is made for deflecting the bow of the loop to carry it forward of the path of the needle. This is accomplished by forming upon the perimeter of the driving member 19 a slotted lug 39, located, when the parts are assembled, immediately back of the rear end of the loop-holder but not in contact therewith. This lug engages the bow of the loop as it leaves the holder and carries it forward. The descending needle passes through the slot in the lug 39 and thereby causes the loop to enter this slot as it is drawn to the work to complete the stitch. This lateral contraction of the loop as it passes through the slot in the lug 39 results in a closer stitch, in that it is of less Width than has usually been obtained.

Back of the lug 39 the plate 19 is laterally recessed, as shown at 40, to provide ample clearance for the needle and the newly forming loop, this aperture extending a sufficient distance to permit the spreading of the loop to receive the forward end of theholder. Certainty of engagement of the loop-holder needle continues its upward movenext advance movement of the needle.

out beyond the path of the point of the holder.

.By the construction described a stitch is formed without drawing through the needle more thread than can be taken up byF the urthermore, the loop is so formed as to be invariably engaged by the holder, and the latter, while being positively driven at all times, slides through the loop freely and without tending to draw it or to strain upon the thread. holder at the proper time to receive the descending needle, and as delivered it is so deflected as to insure the passage of the needle through it. r

I claim as my invention 1. In a sewing machine, in combination, a race ,member, a segmental loop-holder mounted to revolve in the race member, and a revoluble member within the loop-holder and having a loop-deflecting lug projecting into the path thereof. f

2. Ina sewing machine, in combination,

a. race member, a segmental loop-holder mounted to revolve in the race member, and

a revoluble member within the loop-holder and having a slotted loop-deflecting lug projecting in line with the rearward end thereof.

3. In a sewing machine, in combination, a race member, a. segmental loop-holder mounted to revolve in the race member, and a circular revoluble member within the loopholder and having a loop-deflecting lug projecting in linewith the rearward end thereof, the perimeter ofthe circular recessed back ofthe lug.

4. In a sewing machine, in combination, a race member, a segmental loop-holder mounted to revolve in the race member, and a'revoluble member within the loop-holder and having a slotted loop-deflecting lug projecting in line with the rearward end thereof,

the revoluble member cessed back of the lug.

VAN DIVER J. VAN HORN.

being laterally relVitnesses:

JOHN W. ONEILL, E. M. KLAToHER.

member being The loop is delivered from the Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

